University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Policy Name: Graduate School Admission
Policy Number: LR 509.3
Effective Date: July 1, 2022
Revised Date: November 2021
Last Reviewed Date: November 2021
Policy
Graduate Admission Status
A student may be granted admission to the Graduate School in one of the following categories
Regular
Regular Admission to a UA Little Rock graduate program requires that the applicant be in good standing with all previous institutions and meet at least one of the following requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 2.7/4.0 in the last 60 hours from a regionally accredited, domestic institution or an international institution recognized by the International Association of Universities with substantially the same undergraduate program as found at UA Little Rock.
- An advanced degree (master’s or doctoral) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 from a regionally accredited, domestic institution or an international institution recognized by the International Associate of Universities.
International students must meet additional requirements: see Policy 509.9 Graduate School International Student Admission.
In addition to the minimum requirements stipulated above, students must satisfy the requirements of the program to which they are applying in order to be granted regular status. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog for program specific admission requirements. Some degree programs require that the scores from standardized tests, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), be submitted as part of the application portfolio. Generally, scores more than five years old are not accepted. Test scores alone do not determine admission to a program, but are one piece of data used in the consideration process. Letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, writing samples and personal interviews may also be used to assess a student’s preparedness and probability of success.
Students must submit all Graduate School and program admission materials to be considered for regular admissions. After submitting an application, graduate applicants must request official transcripts from any college or university where they earned their graduate and/or undergraduate degrees.
If a bachelor’s degree transcript(s) contains fewer than 60 graded course credits, additional official transcripts from other institutions the applicant attended will be required so that at a minimum, the applicant’s most recent 60 hours can be evaluated. Individual graduate programs may require additional transcripts.
Conditional
There are two paths by which a student may be conditionally admitted:
- Applicants who have supplied all admission materials and have met the Graduate School minimum requirements, may be admitted as conditional students at the discretion of the program.
- Applicants who do not meet the Graduate School minimum GPA requirements may, in rare instances, be admitted conditionally if they meet alternative program requirements approved by the Graduate Council. The number of students that may be admitted without meeting the Graduate School’s minimum GPA requirements is limited to 10% of the official 3-year average program enrollment. Programs may petition the Graduate School for an exception to this limit. Test scores, grades in the undergraduate major, or other pertinent data approved for the program must indicate the student will perform satisfactorily in graduate studies.
Conditionally admitted students may be converted to regular admission status after completing 9 hours if he or she maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Conditionally admitted students will be dismissed after the first 9 hours if their GPA is not at least 3.0 or satisfactory progress is not made towards meeting the admission requirements.
Non-degree seeking
Students not seeking a degree at UA Little Rock who meet the Graduate School minimum requirements may be admitted as, non-degree seeking students. Not all programs allow non-degree seeking students to enroll in their courses. Some programs allow special students to enroll in a limited number of courses. Applicants interested in this category should contact the Graduate School.
Transient
Students enrolled in another accredited graduate school and who secure a letter of good standing from the dean of that graduate school may be admitted to UA Little Rock as transient students.
Contingent Enrollment Privilege
Students not yet admitted to the Graduate School may be granted contingent enrollment privileges (with minimum requirements of an unofficial transcript showing conferral of a baccalaureate or graduate degree) until an admission status is granted. Failure to present adequate and official admission materials within four weeks of enrollment may result in administrative withdrawal from all courses and loss of tuition and fees, and failure to gain admission will prevent enrollment in future graduate courses. The phrase “Admitted to Graduate School” will not appear on the transcript.
Deferment
Occasionally, students who have been admitted into a graduate program are unable to enroll in classes in the term for which they are admitted. On such occasions, students may officially request a deferment for up to one year from the Graduate Coordinator in the program of interest. Approval of students’ requests is not guaranteed but is considered on a case by case basis. Upon completion of the agreed-upon deferred period, it is expected that the student will begin enrolling in graduate coursework in their respective programs. For advising purposes, the catalog year under which a student falls will reflect the academic year that the student first enrolls in courses if that is different than the academic year the student is admitted. If a student fails to file a deferment or fails to register for classes after the completion of a deferment, he or she must reapply for admission.
Undergraduate Senior Admission
UA Little Rock seniors near completion of their baccalaureate degrees may apply for admission to the Graduate School, which provides limited enrollment privileges. If accepted, they will be awarded the appropriate status upon confirmation of their baccalaureate degrees. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Graduate School of degree completion. Students may not be eligible for financial aid while being considered for admission to the Graduate School.
Source: Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes (11/2021)
Revised: November 2021
Status: Active
Approved By: Chancellor Christina Drale
Originator: Faculty Senate
Custodian: Faculty Senate